Bottle holder



D. M. SUlCH BOTTLE HOLDER July 12, 1949.

5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1946 Doro My Mary Suich,

July 12, 1949. D. M. SUICH 2,475,923

- BOTTLE HOLDER Filed June 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .July 12,1949.DMSUICH 2,475,923

BOTTLE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28, 1946 Doro/fly Mary SuichPatented July 12.1949

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for infants nursing bottles.

Various means have been devised for holding a babys bottle so that itwill be in a position comfortable for and convenient to the infant beingfed. Some of such devices have means for gripping the bottle but tend toslide away from the infant. Other arrangements have been devised tosupport a bottle, such as the common expedient of using a foldedblanket, but such arrangements are not satisfactory because the bottlemay slide downwardly toward the mouth of the infant if the bottle isrested on an inclined surface, as it should be in order that it may havethe desired tilt to direct the contents toward the nipple. Suchdisadvantages are avoided by the present invention.

One of the features of the bottle holder of this invention provides thatthe baby may rest comfortably with cheek against a soft inclinedpillow-like surface while the device is so anchored that it may notslide away.

The particular contour of the pillow portion of the bottle holdercontributes another feature of advantage.

tails are described and claimed in the following specification andclaims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective one of the pillow-like bottle holdersof this invention as used;

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the apron opened;

Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom of the device shown in Fig. 2, lookingupwardly, and illustrating the location of the pocket for the apron;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2 looking at itfrom the left, the apron having been stored in the pocket beneath thepillow;

Fig. .5 is a vertical section taken on the line ISO 55 of Fig. 2, exceptfor the fact that the apron is stored as indicated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows an optional type of bottle gripping device having twistedinterengaged fingers, prior to being fastened;

Fig. 7 shows the device of F g. 6 in the assembled relation;

Fig. 8 shows a button and loop type of fastening for the bottle grippingdevice in the unfastened relation; and

Fig. 9 shows the device of Fig. 8 with the button and loop in the bottlegripping relation.

Referring in detail to the several figures of the drawings, likereference characters identify like parts.

The bottle holder of this invention includes a base member or pillow Iwhich is relatively broad so as to thus provide adequate foundation fora bottle when the device is in use. The pillow I is slightly longer fromfront to back than it is wide, as will be observed by comparing Figs. 3and 4. The highest portion of the pillow I is toward the rear side ofthe pillow, that is the left side in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and the bottlegripping means is mounted on that highest portion, as will be described.From the highest point in the region of the bottle gripping means, theforward surface of the pillow I slopes substantially diagonallydownwardly in advance of the bottle gripping means, and to the right asshown in Fig. 5, providing an inclined surface la. which terminates atthe extreme forward and lower marginal edge of the pillow I. The slopingsurface Iq. serves as a relatively soft pillow against which an infantscheek may rest while the de- Vice is in use. The contour of the surfaceIa. may be noted by reference to Fig. 5.

Across the highest portion of the pillow I is securely mounted a bag 2which preferably is filled with small relatively heavy pellets 211.,such as beans or balls. Such a filling makes it possible for the uppersurface and contents of the bag 2 to be adapted to the contour of ababys bottle when the latter is firmly placed on the upper surface ofthe bag or is positioned in bottle gripping means secured to the uppersurface of the bag 2. In short, that type of filling for the bag 2provides a relatively solid yet yieldable support for the bottle, whichserves to hold the bottle in any predetermined position.

On the upper surface of the bag 2 is mounted bottle gripping means 3which is shown in several forms. As illustrated in Figs. 1-5, inclusive,bottle gripping means 3 is a U-shaped clip which may be either of metalor other. material capable of exercising a spring grip on a bottle.Preferably also such a spring-like element is covered with a waterprooftextile material, and padding is preferably used between the outercovering and the inner spring member. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, thebottle gripping element 3 carries with it a tab 4 which is sewed orotherwise secured to the upper surface of the bag 2 by means ofstitching indicated at 4a. It will be noted that the pillow or base Iextends laterally in advance or beyond the bottle gripping means 3.

To provide convenient access to the interior of the bag 2, a zipperopening is provided across the rear face as indicated at 5. opening thepellets 2a for the bag 2 may be introduced or removed. Manifestly, thearticle can be shipped in much lighter and compact form if the pelletsare added by the ultimate purchaser. The U-shaped clip and the use ofpellets within the bag 2 are conventional. However, a distinct advantageis derived by the location of the bag 2 toward the rear of and on thehighest part of the pillow I so that the forward and downwardlyextending surface la is provided as a pillow for an infant's cheek.

Desirable modifications of the bottle gripping means are illustrated inFigs. 6 9, inclusive, of the drawings, as will be explained hereinafter.

One of the advantages of the device of this invention results from theconstruction whereby the weight of the infants head serves to anchor thepillow I and bottle carried thereby from slid ing away from the infantwhile in use. The construction which provides for thedesired resultincludes a bib or apron member 6 which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 assubstantially circular in outline when in the opened position. Its uppersurface is indicated at 6a and its lower surface at 61). One edge of theapron 6 is stitched or otherwise secured to the under surface of thepillow I as indicated at 6c, Fig. 3. It will" be clear that the apron 6extends laterally beyond or in advance of the pillow I'. Around themarginal edgeof the apron 6 is a strip of goods! which is stitched orotherwise secured to the apron 6 as indicated at Ia. This strip I isfolded over and embraces the outer edge of the apron 6. On its uppersurface the strip 1 is free and loosely overhangs the upper surface 6aof the apron 6. The overhanging edge provides a shallow rim which servesto catch and hold on the apron 6 any liquid which may be spilled by theinfant using the bottle holder. In Fig. 3 is illustrated a viewof thebottom of the bottle holderwith the apron 6 in the opened. andunfoldedcondition, the lower surface of the apron being indicated at to.In this view is shown also a zipper closure Ib for an opening throughwhich the pillow member I may be stuffed with suitable filling material;Such filling material may be cotton or felt. It is important, however,that the stuffing beneath the surface Ia be quite soft so that it isacceptable to a babys cheek.

On the bottom surface of the pillow I is a pocket 8, shown in Figs. 3, 4and 5, and the mouth of which pocket faces forwardly. When the apron 6'isfolded, it may be tucked into or inserted into themouth of the pocketand stored in the pocket 8 awaiting furtheruse. The cross sectional viewshown in Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the foldedapron 6-in thepocket 8-.

Referring to the modifications of the.- bottle grippin'g'meansas-shown-in-Figs. 6-9, Fig. 6 shows one type of fastening. which hasdisti'nctive ad; vantages;. This form. of fastening membercom- Throughthis prises two opposed body members which are preferably formed oftextile material, within which is located a wire frame, the contour ofwhich frame follows substantially the peripheral outline of the two bodymembers. One of these members is indicated at I0 and the other at II inFigs. 6 and 7. The wire frame of each member is indicated in dottedlines at I2. The body portions of each of the members In and II aresecured, as by stitching, to the upper surface of the bag 2. Theportions of the two body members In and I I next adjacent each other arecharacterized by one or more tabs which project as. finger-like membersI3 toward each other. As shown in Fig. 6, the fingers I3 are as yet inthe disengaged position. When a bottle is to be secured in position, itis placed on the upper surface of the bag 2 between the members II] andII, and the adjacent and opposite fingers I3 are brought together andtwisted about each other to the position shown in Fig. 7. A half turn isusually sufficient. to: bring the fingers I3 with their wire frames intointerlocking position. Thereafter, when- It is desired to remove or toreplace the bottle, it may beread il'y slipped beneath the interlockedfingers. If the goods of which the body members W and H and fingers I3are formed has-waterproof characteristics or is a textile goods having awaterproof coating, it is highly probable that the surface of such goodswill tend to hold a glass bottle fairly firmly against accidentalslippage.

In the modifications of the bottle holding device shown in Figs. 8 and9, the opposed: body members or tabs I4 and I5 have complementaryfastening elements secured to them: as wilk now be explained. On the tabI4 is illustrated one or more buttons I6 which. may be secured on thetab by any convenient means. Fastened to the opposing tab I5 are elasticloops I=I.'. At: thee!!- treme ends of the loops II! are: fingergripping tabs I8. When a bottle has beenplaced between the tabs I4 andIS, the adjacent. ends are laid across the top of the bottle and. thevelastic loops H are pulled out and over the buttons IE; on the opposingtab. The fastening arrangements shown in Figs. 6-9; inclusive, arebelieved to possess distinctive advantages in that they tend to lieclose to the bottle and thus are not likely to project far enough out tohurt aninfant.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the bottle holding deviceillustrated. with its. pillowlike forward sloping extension serves toholda bottle in the desired. position so. that there may ,be proper flowof milk toward the nipple, while at the same time an infant's headserves to anchor the device not. only by resting. against. thecomfortable softand yielding surface Ia but also by resting on the apron6 It will also be clear from. the foregoing that the portions I and Iacomprising the pillow serve to anchor the bottle hol'der againstmovement when the bottle holder is in use. In other words, the base ofthe pillow resists movement over. a supporting surface even moreeffectively than such movement would be resistant by the bag 2 with itsfilling of heavy pellets if" the latter constituted the lowermostelement of the bottle holding means. The softyield'able surface of thepillow member is relatively broad as compared to the area occupiedby'th'e-bag 2.

The entire covering of th'ebottle holder may be of any suitablewashablewaterproof materiali The desired size and proportions of the device maybe varied within the foregoing requirements: Bottle holdersof'wa'shable' andyi'eldable material are more or less conventional.However, distinctive advantages are provided by a foregoing relation ofparts and features which have been emphasized.

I claim:

1. A bottle holder comprising a pillow member having a high portion anda base portion having an edge defining the lower edge of the pillowmember, bottle supporting means on and secured to said high portion, theupper surface of said pillow member extending from said high portion andlaterally beyond said bottle supporting means and sloping downwardlytoward and terminating at the edge of said pillow member, whereby aninfant may rest one cheek thereon while using a bottle held on saidsupporting means.

2. A bottle holder having a base, bottle gripping means mounted abovesaid base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally inadvance of said bottle gripping means, and an apron secured to said baseand adapted to extend laterally in advance therefrom and on which aprona babys head may rest to prevent lateral displacement of said base andthe bottle gripping means carried thereby.

3. A bottle holder having a base, bottle gripping means mounted abovesaid base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally inadvance of said bottle gripping means, an apron secured to said base andadapted to extend laterally in advance therefrom and on which apron ababy's head may rest to prevent lateral displacement of said base andthe bottle gripping means carried thereby, and a raised marginal edgearound said apron.

4. A bottle holder having a base and bottle gripping means mounted abovesaid base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally inadvance of said bottle gripping means, a pocket located on said base,and an apron secured to said base adjacent the mouth of said pocket andadapted to extend laterally and in advance outwardly from said base.

5. A bottle holder having a base and bottle gripping means mounted abovesaid base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally inadvance of said bottle gripping means, a pocket located on said base,and an apron secured to said base adjacent the mouth of said pocket andadapted to extend laterally and in advance therefrom, and said apronwhen folded being adapted to be fitted into and stored within saidpocket, and when in opened and unfolded condition to extend laterallybeyond said base so that a babys head may rest on it to prevent lateraldisplacement of said base and the bottle gripping means carried thereby.

6. In a bottle holder, a combination cheek rest and adjustable bottlesupport comprising a pillow member having one relatively high portion, aflexible bag containing heavy loose particles mounted on and secured tothe high portion of said pillow member and constituting bottlesupporting means, and bottle gripping means carried by said bag, theupper surface of said pillow member extending from said high portion andlaterally beyond said bottle supporting means and sloping downwardlytoward the edge of said pillow member, whereby an infant may rest onecheek thereon while using a bottle held on said supporting means.

7. A bottle holding device, a base, a bottle gripping member mountedabove said b-ase and comprising a pair of opposed tabs, each tab havingone portion secured to said base and a second portion adapted to beraised over a bottle resting horizontally on said base, and each secondportion having a projecting finger extending beyond said second portionand adapted to interengage the finger of the other second portion tolock therewith and grip the second portion about a bottle.

8. A bottle holding device, a base, a-bottle gripping member mountedabove said base and com prising a pair of opposed tabs, each having oneportion secured to said base and the second portion adapted to be raisedover a bottle resting horizontally on said base, and each second por- Ition having a projecting finger adapted to interengage the finger of theother second portion to lock therewith and grip the second portion abouta bottle, said tabs and fingers having a pliable wire frame therein,whereby when the fingers are twisted about each other, they tend toremain interengaged.

DOROTHY MARY SUICI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,617,944 Gerstner Feb. 15, 19271,778,545 Allen Oct. 14, 1930 2,389,390 Silverman et al. Nov. 20, 19452,451,718 Corrao Oct, 19, 1948

